U.S. patent number 5,748,228 [Application Number 08/853,335] was granted by the patent office on 1998-05-05 for image information enlarging reading device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Naoki Hiji, Kenichi Kobayashi, Seigo Makida, Yoshio Nishihara.
United States Patent |
5,748,228 |
Kobayashi , et al. |
May 5, 1998 |
Image information enlarging reading device
Abstract
An image enlarging reading device includes an image inputting
device including an image sensor and an image displaying device,
for example, a liquid crystal display for displaying a whole or a
part of image information inputted by the image inputting device. A
reading portion of the image inputting device and a displaying
portion of the image displaying device are positioned on a front
side and a rear side respectively of the image enhancement display
device with the displaying portion positioned over an area being
read, that is, an area of image inputting. The image may be
enhanced by enlargement of an input image to a magnified output
image.
Inventors: |
Kobayashi; Kenichi (Ebina,
JP), Makida; Seigo (Ebina, JP), Nishihara;
Yoshio (Ebina, JP), Hiji; Naoki (Ebina,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. (Tokyo,
JP)
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Family
ID: |
15179567 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/853,335 |
Filed: |
May 8, 1997 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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667911 |
Jun 27, 1996 |
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428013 |
Apr 25, 1995 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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May 27, 1994 [JP] |
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6-136620 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/63; 382/114;
382/315 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N
1/195 (20130101); H04N 2201/043 (20130101); H04N
2201/0436 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04N
1/195 (20060101); H04N 007/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;348/63,62,373,374,376
;358/473,474 ;382/114,298,113,313,312,315 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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218177 |
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Oct 1985 |
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JP |
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64-62980 |
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Mar 1989 |
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JP |
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5-41866 |
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Feb 1993 |
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JP |
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Primary Examiner: Au; Amelia
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Oliff & Berridge
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/667,911 filed
Jun. 27, 1996, now abandoned, which in turn is a continuation of
application Ser. No. 08/428,013 filed Apr. 25, 1995, now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An image information enlarging device for assisting a reader
comprising:
a planar body having a top surface, a bottom surface parallel to
the top surface, and at least one side surface, each of said top
and bottom surfaces having a surface area greater than the surface
area of the at least one side surface;
image inputting means forming the bottom surface of the body,
wherein said image inputting means is a non-mechanical scanning
two-dimensional contact type image sensor;
image displaying means forming most of the top surface of the body
for displaying all or a part of the image information inputted by
said image inputting means; and
an image inputting portion of said image inputting means and a
displaying portion of said image displaying means, said displaying
portion being positioned directly over and substantially parallel
to said image inputting portion and the image information inputted,
the information enlarging device further comprising means for
enlarging information input by said image inputting portion of said
image inputting means and displayed by said displaying portion of
said image displaying means.
2. The image information enlarging device for assisting a reader
described in claim 1, wherein the means for enlarging information
carries out enlarging based on the difference between a pixel
density of said image inputting portion of said image inputting
means and that of said displaying portion of said image displaying
means.
3. The image information enlarging device for assisting a reader
described in claim 1, wherein the means for enlarging information
carries out enlarging by image processing of image signals obtained
by said image inputting means.
4. The image information enlarging device for assisting a reader
described in claim 1, wherein said image inputting means is a
two-dimensional image sensor and said image displaying means is a
two-dimensional display.
5. The image information enlarging device for assisting a reader
described in claim 1, wherein displaying of information, which is
carried out by a two-dimensional display and input by a
two-dimensional image sensor is carried out immediately after the
inputting of said two-dimensional image sensor.
6. The image information enlarging device for assisting a reader
described in claim 1, wherein said means for enlarging information
includes means for displaying a whole image while simultaneously
displaying an enlarged portion of said whole image.
7. The image information enlarging device for assisting a reader
described in claim 6, further comprising means for varying the
position of said enlarged portion relative to said whole image on
said displaying portion.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image inputting and outputting
device which carries out reading (image inputting) and displaying
of images, and especially to an image information enlarging reading
device which is effective for persons with low eyesight to read
image information.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, as image information enlarging reading devices,
there are systems using video cameras and television monitors. With
one of such devices, reading is carried out by placing an object to
be read, such as a book or a magazine under a fixed video camera
and moving the object, watching an enlarged image displayed in a
television monitor. As a portable image information enlarging
reading device, as shown in Japanese unexamined patent publication
Hei 5-41866, a system using a video camera and a liquid crystal
display is proposed. With this device, a liquid crystal display and
a video camera of a small size are received in the corresponding
receiving portions of a case, which makes it portable. In use, the
video camera is taken out, and the reading of images is carried out
by placing the camera on an object to be read and moving it by
hand.
However, with the former one of the above described image
information enlarging reading devices, as reading is carried out by
moving an object to be read and watching an enlarged image
displayed in a television monitor, it is difficult to guess which
portion of the object is being read and to read image information
of different lines. Further, as the whole system is bulky, it
cannot be carried freely.
With the latter one of the above described image information
enlarging and reading devices, as reading is carried out by moving
a video camera with respect to an object to be read and watching an
enlarged image displayed in a liquid crystal display, it is also
difficult to guess which portion of the object is being read and to
read image information of different lines. Further, when it is
carried, the liquid crystal display and video camera must be stored
in a case, it is not easy to carry them.
The way wherein an image information enlarging reading device is
used, the type and size of it and the environment wherein it is
used are diverse, and the development of a device which is easy to
use has been desired. As a person with poor eyesight tends to look
at a displayed character or image, making himself close to a screen
and it is preferable for him to use an image information enlarging
reading device by himself so that he can use it freely, the one
which is excellent in respect of portability has been desired. With
the above described conventional image information enlarging
reading devices, as an image inputting portion and enlarging
displaying portion are separated, it is necessary to look at the
object to be read and the enlarging displaying portion separately,
which makes it difficult to use the devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image
inputting and outputting device free of the defects found in the
conventional arts.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an image
inputting and outputting device such as an image information
enlarging reading device capable of being used easily and which is
excellent in portability.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set
forth in part in the description which follows and in part will be
apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention.
In one aspect of the present invention described in claim 1 to
solve the above described conventional problems, the image
inputting and outputting device comprises image inputting means and
image displaying means for displaying the whole or a part of image
information inputted by this image inputting means, and a reading
portion of the image inputting means and a displaying portion of
the image displaying means are provided, being combined so that
they are the front side and the rear side respectively, and the
displaying portion is positioned over the range being read, that
is, the range of image inputting.
In another aspect of the present invention described in claim 2,
the image inputting and outputting device described in claim 1
carries out enlarging displaying (displaying by enlargement) by the
difference between the pixel density of the reading portion of the
image inputting means and that of the displaying portion of the
image displaying means.
In another aspect of the present invention described in claim 3,
the image inputting and outputting device described in claim 1
carries out enlarging displaying by image processing, such as
analog-digital conversion, of image signals obtained by the image
inputting means.
In another aspect of the present invention described in claim 4, in
the image inputting and outputting device described in claim 1, the
image inputting means is a two-dimensional image sensor and the
image displaying means is a flat panel display.
In another aspect of the present invention described in claim 5,
displaying of information, which is carried out by the flat panel
display described in claim 4, read by the two-dimensional image
sensor, is carried out immediately after the reading of the
two-dimensional image sensor.
According to the image inputting and outputting device described in
claim 1, as the displaying portion is positioned over the range
being read, that is, the range of image inputting, there is no
difference between the place where the image is inputted and that
where it is displayed, and one can look at the enlarged screen,
looking at an object to be read, which makes it easy to confirm
which portion of the image is now being read.
According to the image inputting and outputting device described in
claim 2, enlarging displaying is carried out by the difference
between the pixel density of the reading portion and that of the
displaying portion, and an enlarging function can be obtained with
a simple structure.
According to the image inputting and outputting device described in
claim 3, as enlarging displaying is carried out in the image
displaying means by processing image signals obtained by the image
inputting means, a desired portion is enlarged by a desired
magnification.
According to the image inputting and outputting device described in
claim 4, enlarging displaying of an object to be read over a large
range is possible by using a two-dimensional image sensor and a
flat panel display.
According to the image inputting and outputting device described in
claim 5, as displaying of information, which is carried out by the
flat panel display described in claim 4, read by the
two-dimensional image sensor is carried out immediately after the
reading of the two-dimensional image sensor, it is possible to
confirm which portion is being read, confirming the reading status
simultaneously when reading a document or the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The manner by which the above objects and the other objects,
features and advantages of the preset invention are attained will
be fully evident from the following detailed description when it is
considered in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows an image information enlarging reading device, which
is seen from above, according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 shows the bottom part of the image information enlarging
reading device shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the image information enlarging
reading device shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the image information enlarging
reading device shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the
image information enlarging reading device shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a timing chart concerning reading and displaying carried
out by the image information enlarging reading device shown in FIG.
1.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified embodiment of
the image information enlarging reading device.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another modified embodiment of
the image information enlarging reading device.
FIG. 9 shows an image information enlarging reading device, which
is seen from above, according to a second embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 10 shows the bottom part of the image information enlarging
reading device shown in FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the image information enlarging
reading device shown in FIG. 9.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the
image information enlarging reading device shown in FIG. 9.
FIG. 13 shows an image information enlarging reading device, which
is seen from above, according to a third embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 14 shows the bottom part of the image information enlarging
reading device shown in FIG. 13.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the image information enlarging
reading device shown in FIG. 13.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the
image information enlarging reading device showing in FIG. 13.
FIG. 17 shows an algorithm of enlarging displaying.
FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another modified embodiment of the
image information enlarging reading device.
FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of another modified embodiment of
the image information enlarging reading device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1
An image information enlarging reading device of a first embodiment
according to the present invention is now described, referring to
FIGS. 1 to 6.
Two-dimensional contact type image sensor 2 is provided to the
bottom part of the main body 1 of the image information enlarging
reading device, as image inputting means, and liquid crystal
display 3 capable of flat panel displaying is provided to the front
surface of the main body as image displaying means. The image
inputting portion of two-dimensional contact type image sensor 2
and the image displaying portion of liquid crystal display 3 are
provided, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, so that they are parallel, and
the displaying portion is positioned over the range being read,
that is, the range of image inputting, by providing the image
displaying portion immediately above the image inputting
portion.
The image inputting portion of two-dimensional contact type image
sensor 2 is A6-sized, the image displaying portion of liquid
crystal display 3 is A5-sized, and the number of pixels of
two-dimensional contact type image sensor 2 and that of liquid
crystal display 3 is the same, that is, the pixel density of
two-dimensional contact type image sensor 2 is higher than that of
liquid crystal display 3.
Power supply switch 4 for the image information enlarging reading
device, image black/white inversion switch 5 for switching the
display of characters and background, image brightness adjusting
knob 6 for adjusting the brightness of displayed image are provided
to the portion, which is nearer to an operator compared with the
liquid crystal display 3, of the main body 1 of the image
information enlarging reading device.
Inside the main body 1 of the image information enlarging reading
device, two long light sources (cathode tubes) 7 which act both as
illuminations for two-dimensional contact type image sensor 2 and
backlights for liquid crystal display 3 are provided in parallel
and at the same height. At the sides, which are opposite to the
side of light-guiding plate 17, of each light source 7, reflection
members 8 comprising plastic films and on which Ag or Al is
deposited are provided, and they reflect the light from light
sources 7 and converge the light toward the center of light-guiding
plate 17.
The main body is structured so that the light from light sources 7
is conveyed uniformly to the upper surface of two-dimensional
contact type image sensor 2 and the lower surface of liquid crystal
display 3, by being provided diffusing plates 9 comprising
polyester-based films to the upper surface of two-dimensional
contact type image sensor 2 and the lower surface of liquid crystal
display 3 and being provided light-guiding plate 17 comprising
materials such as acrylic resin between light sources 7.
Further, processing circuit 10 for displaying, on liquid crystal
display 3, image signals read by two-dimensional contact type image
sensor 2 and power supply 11 are stored in the main body 1 of the
image information enlarging reading device.
Two-dimensional contact type image sensor 2 is structured by
laminating, by a thin film forming process, individual or common
electrodes and a photoelectric transfer film such as amorphous
silicon (amorphous silicon:a-Si) so that the photoelectric transfer
film is sandwiched by the electrodes. This two-dimensional contact
type image sensor 2 is, as described in Japanese unexamined patent
publication Sho 64-62980, structured by aligning a plurality of
photoreceptive elements, for example, the ones structured by
laminating, by a thin film forming process, individual or common
electrodes and a photoelectric transfer film such as amorphous
silicon (amorphous silicon:a-Si) so that the photoelectric transfer
film is sandwiched by the electrodes, two-dimensionally on a
light-transmitting substrates and providing apertures between each
photoreceptive element. The image information enlarging reading
device is placed on a side, which is to be read, of a document, the
document is positioned under the image sensor, the light from the
light sources is transmitted through the apertures of the
photoreceptive elements and then it is reflected on the surface of
the document, the reflected light is received by the photoreceptive
elements facing the document and an image of the document is read
by photoelectric transfer, by which image information of a range of
image inputting can be read without mechanical scanning means.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the
above described image information enlarging reading device.
Image inputting portion 21 of two-dimensional contact type image
sensor 2 is driven by sensor controlling circuit 22, and the image
read by image inputting portion 21 is once stored in memory 23 and
it is displayed on image displaying portion 25 of liquid crystal
display 3 by display controlling portion 24 of a microcomputer.
With the above described image information enlarging reading
device, as the image inputting portion of two-dimensional contact
type image sensor 2 is A6-sized, the image displaying portion of
liquid crystal display 3 is A5-sized and the number of pixels of
each portion is the same, when the whole image read by the image
inputting portion is displayed as it is, the document image can be
displayed on the image displaying portion, being enlarged 1.41
times as big as the original one.
Therefore, an image processing portion for enlargement is not
necessary between memory 23 and display controlling portion 24.
The image information read by two-dimensional contact type image
sensor 2 is first stored in memory 23 and then it is displayed on
liquid crystal display 3. As for the displaying timing, as shown in
FIG. 6, an image of the range of previous reading (image inputting)
is displayed on liquid crystal display 3 while an image of the
present range is being read by image sensor 2. As the reading time
of image sensor 2 with respect to a range of image inputting is 30
ms, a time lag of 30 ms is caused between reading and displaying,
but since the reading time with respect to a range of image
inputting is short, the time lag is not realized when using the
device, which makes real time displaying possible. Further, if the
same image is repeatedly read by image sensor 2 (if the device is
placed on the same page of the document), as the information to be
read is the same, the same image is displayed repeatedly.
Therefore, when reading a document, the operator can confirm the
portion, which is being read, of the document, confirming the
reading status simultaneously, by which reading errors can be
prevented.
Although, with the above described device, light sources 7 act both
as illuminations for two-dimensional contact type image sensor 2
and as backlights for liquid crystal display 3, light source for
illuminating documents 7a and backlight for the liquid crystal
display 7b can be provided separately as shown in FIG. 7. In FIG.
7, the same portions as shown in FIG. 4 are identified by the same
reference indications.
Although, with an image information enlarging reading device
according to the present invention, the image inputting portion of
image sensor 2 and the image displaying portion of liquid crystal
display 3 are provided in parallel, they can be provided so that
the image displaying portion of liquid crystal display 3 is
prominent and inclined with respect to the image inputting portion
of image sensor 2, that is, a convex portion 12 whose height from
the main body increases in accordance with the distance from the
operator is provided on the main body and the image displaying
portion of liquid crystal display 3 is provided to the surface of
convex portion 12. In FIG. 8, the same portions as FIG. 3 are
identified by the same reference indications.
With the above described embodiment, (including modified
embodiments), as image sensor 2 and liquid crystal display 3 are
combined, the size of the device can be reduced, which makes the
device excellent in portability. Further, as the image displaying
portion is positioned over a range of image inputting of image
sensor 2, the operator can be aware of which image of the document
is being inputted without taking his eyes off of the display. Yet
further, as which portion of the original document the portion
being enlarged corresponds to can be confirmed easily, the
efficiency of using the device is improved, and it is possible to
carry out enlarging displaying easily without moving the object to
be read.
As both image sensor 2 and liquid crystal display 3 are
document-sized though their sizes are different, high speed image
reading is possible without moving the sensor by a driving
system.
Embodiment 2
FIGS. 9 to 12 inclusive show a second embodiment of the image
information enlarging reading device, and the same portions as
shown in the above described first embodiment are identified by the
same reference indications.
With this image information enlarging reading device, as the one
according to the first embodiment, two-dimensional contact type
image sensor 2 is provided to the bottom part of the main body as
image inputting means, and liquid crystal display 3 capable of flat
panel displaying is provided to the front surface of the main body
as image displaying means. The device is structured so that the
image displaying portion of the liquid crystal display is
positioned immediately above the range of the image inputting
portion of image sensor 2.
Both image sensor 2 and the image displaying portion of liquid
crystal display 3 are A4-sized, the number of pixels of image
sensor 2 and that of liquid crystal display 3 are the same, the
whole image read by the image inputting portion of image sensor 2
is displayed on the image displaying portion of liquid crystal
display 3 with a magnification equal to the original document or
with a local enlargement in the whole image read by the image
inputting portion with a magnification equal to the original
document.
In the portion, which is nearer to the operator compared with the
liquid crystal display, of the main body, enlargement magnification
adjusting knob 13 for predetermining the magnification of enlarging
displaying is provided, adjacent to image brightness adjusting knob
6.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the
above described image information enlarging reading device. Image
inputting portion 21 of two-dimensional contact type image sensor 2
is driven by sensor controlling circuit 22, the image read by the
image inputting portion is once stored in memory 23 and it is
displayed, being enlarged on image displaying portion 25 of liquid
crystal display 3 by display controlling portion 24 though (by way
of) image processing portion 26 which carries out operations such
as predetermining magnification. Image processing portion 26 and
display controlling portion 24 are microprocessors.
The image information read by image sensor 2 is first stored in
memory 23, enlarged by image processing portion 26 is accordance
with the magnification predetermined by enlargement magnification
adjusting knob 13, and it is displayed on the image displaying
portion of liquid crystal display 3 by display controlling portion
24. As for the displaying of the read image, it is displayed, being
enlarged, in order from the upper left end on the image displaying
portion.
Embodiment 3
FIGS. 13 to 19 inclusive show a third embodiment of the image
information enlarging reading device according to the present
invention, and the same portions as shown in the above described
first and second embodiments are identified by the same reference
indications.
With this device, as each device of the above described
embodiments, two-dimensional contact type image sensor 2 is
provided to the bottom part of the main body as image inputting
means, and liquid crystal display 3 capable of flat panel
displaying is provided to the front surface of the main body as
image displaying means. The image inputting portion of image sensor
2 and the image displaying portion of liquid crystal display 3 are
provided so that they are parallel, and the displaying portion is
positioned over the range of image inputting of image sensor 2, by
positioning the image displaying portion immediately above the
image inputting portion .
Both of the image inputting portion image sensor 2 and the image
displaying portion of liquid crystal display 3 are A4-sized, and
the number of pixels of image sensor 2 and that of liquid crystal
display 3 are the same. The whole image read by the image inputting
portion of image sensor 2 is displayed on the image displaying
portion of liquid crystal display 3 simultaneously.
In the image displaying portion, as shown in FIG. 13, a square
enlarging displaying portion 14 of a predetermined area can be
displayed in the whole image displayed with the same magnification
as the original document.
Track ball 15 capable of rotating in desired directions is provided
in the lower right end of the front surface, that is, the side of
liquid crystal display 3 of the main body 1. The device is
structured so that enlarging displaying portion 14 in the whole
image displayed on liquid crystal display 3 with the same
magnification as the original document is moved by rotating this
track ball 15. Enlarging displaying portion 14 is to display the
document image which is immediately below it, enlarging the image.
Further, enlargement magnification adjusting knob 13 for
predetermining the magnification of enlarging displaying of the
above described enlarging displaying portion 14 is provided, being
adjacent to image brightness adjusting knob 6.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the
above described image information enlarging reading device. Image
inputting portion 21 of image sensor 2 is driven by sensor
controlling circuit 22, and the image read by image inputting
portion 21 is first stored in memory 23. Image processing portion
26 enlarges the image stored in memory 23, based on the
information, which is sent from enlarged portion specifying portion
27 to which positional signals are sent from track ball 15,
concerning the portions to be enlarged and the information
indicated by enlargement magnification adjusting knob 13. An
enlarged image is displayed on image displaying portion 25 of
liquid crystal display 3 by display controlling portion 24.
Image processing portion 26 and displaying controlling portion 24
are microcomputers.
The image information read by image sensor 2 is first stored in
memory 23 and then a specified portion of it is enlarged in image
processing portion 26, based on the indication, which is made in
accordance with positional signals sent from track ball 15, of
enlarged portion specifying portion 27 and the magnification
specified by enlargement magnification adjusting knob 13, and the
image information is displayed on the image displaying portion of
liquid crystal display 3 by display controlling portion 24.
Enlarging displaying portion 14 displays the document image which
is positioned immediately below it, enlarging the image. Enlarging
displaying can be realized by carrying out processing in accordance
with the following algorithm.
For example, as shown in FIG. 17, when a document image is enlarged
with a magnification of 4, an enlarged image is obtained by
regarding pixels a, b, c and d, each of which are provided adjacent
to a pixel of the original images A, B, C or D, as A, B, C and D
respectively.
In image processing portion 26, enlarging processing is carried out
in accordance with an algorithm corresponding to each
magnification.
According to this embodiment, as the whole image displayed with a
magnification equal to the original document and an enlarged
portion are displayed simultaneously and the portion being enlarged
is known by the position of enlarging displaying portion 14,
confirmation of the portion being enlarged in the whole image
displayed can be carried out easily.
With an image information enlarging reading device according to the
third embodiment, track ball 15 is used for enlarged portion
specifying means, and enlarging displaying portion 14 can be moved
by means of mouse 16 as shown in FIG. 18. The portions to be
enlarged can also be specified by tracing liquid crystal display 3
over a touch panel provided on liquid crystal display 3 by
something such as a finger.
In each of the above described first, second and third embodiments,
the sizes of the image inputting portions of image sensor 2 are A4
to A6, and it is also possible to make the lateral length of image
inputting portion A4, A5 or A6-sized as shown in FIG. 19 and to
make the longitudinal length of it short. In this case, the size of
the image displaying portion of display 3 is also reduced in
accordance with the size of image sensor 2. In the figure, the same
portions as shown in FIG. 15 are identified by the same reference
indications.
With such an image information enlarging reading device, the range
of image inputting for a single operation is some lines; the whole
document 30 can be covered in respect of width (if The document to
be read is A4, A5 or A6-sized, the device is to be moved not for
each line but for some lines, which allows the device to be smaller
and excellent in portability.
Further, although liquid crystal displays which have an advantage
in respect of low power consumption and coloring images are used as
image displaying means in each of the above described embodiments,
ELD (Electroluminescence Display), PDP (Plasma Display Panel) or
the like can also be used.
With the present invention, as an image displaying portion is
positioned over the range of image inputting, there is no shift
between the place where an image is inputted and where the image is
displayed, and a user can look at an enlarging displaying screen,
watching the object to be read. Therefore, the operator need not
look at the object and enlarging displaying screen separately, he
can confirm the enlarged portion in inputted image easily, and the
efficiency of using the device is improved. Further, it can be
smaller, thinner and lighter, which makes it excellent in
portability.
Further, by comprising a two-dimensional image sensor as the image
inputting means and a flat panel display as the image displaying
portion, image reading is carried out at high speed without moving
the sensor by a driving system.
Yet further, by reading and displaying an image information
positioned immediately below the image information inputting and
outputting device simultaneously, image reading can be carried out,
confirming the portion being read simultaneously.
* * * * *